Priming mechanism for hydroturbine air pumps



Feb. 12, 1929.

n. c. JENNINGS PRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS OriginalFiled Aug. 4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 fr /Q9 NEW/@793 Feb, 12,, 192stMOZJW I. C. JENNINGS PRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPSOriginal Filed Aug. 4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 j/V/jf W w /7042525 Feb.12, 1929.

I. C. JENNINGS PRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS OriginalFiled Aug. 4, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet eb. 12, 1929.. LWZJW II. c. JENNINGSPRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS Original Filed Aug. 4, 19265 Sheets-Sheet 4 3% wwww Feb. 12, 1929. 1,702,119

I. C. JENNINGS PRIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS OriginalFiled Aug. 4, 1926 5 Sfiets-Sheet 5 4o mi x 31 w l 38 E 32 Patented Feb.12, 1929.

UNITED STATES- I IRVING- C. JENNINGS, OF SOUTH NORW'AILK, CONNECTICUT.

PBIMING MECHANISM FOR HYDROTURBINE AIR PUMPS.

Original application filed August 4, 1926, Serial No. 127,163. .Dividedand this application filed March 3,

1928. Serial No. 258,946.

This application is a division of my pending application, Serial No.127,163, filed by me August 4, 1926.

v This invention relates to an air pump of the hydroturbine type, whichuses water or other liquid for its pumping action, and relates moreparticularly to improved means for priming such an air pump and forcausing it to quickly resume pumping operations after it has beenstanding idle or has lost its operating water.

While the invention is of general application to hydroturbine air pumps,it is particularly useful in connection with such pumps when forming apart of a sewage ejecting system or when otherwise operatedintermittently for short intervals only.

In a sewage ejection system, such as is shown in my prior Patent No.1,492,171, issued April 29, 1924, it is customary to provide a closedtank or sewage receiver into which sewage or other liquid may flow bygravity and from which it is ejected by subjecting the receiver to asuitable air pressure, causing the sewage to be discharged through anoutlet pipe past a suitable check valve.

The air pressure in the system disclosed in my prior patent is suppliedby a hydroturbine air pump of the type using water for its pumpingaction and this pump is shown as being motor driven and as beingcontrolled by a float in the sewage .receiver. When a predeterminedamount of sewage has entered the receiver, the float closes the switchand the pump forces air into the receiver, ejecting the sewage throughthe discharge pipe. A hydro-turbine pump has a special,

advantage when used in such a system because it provides a natural ventfor the sew-' age receiver as soon as thepump ceases to rotate, as theoperating water flows to the lower-part of the casing, leaving an openair passage through the pump casing and out through the upper inlet portof the pump.

The system above described operates efficiently but it has been foundthat the rush of air out through the pump, as the sewage receiver fillsrapidly, tends to delay the restoration of the pump to operatingcondition when it is started by the float controlled switch. There isfrequently sufficient air pressure in the pump casing to delay theproper distribution of the operating water in the casing.

This is objectionable, as it reduces the sewage'capacity of the system,which is preferably so designed that the sewage receiver may beavailable to receive sewage during the greatest'possible proportion ofthe time and so that the receiver will be emptied immediately after acharge has been received.

With these operating conditions in mind, it is the general object of myi'nveniton to rovide improved means for priming a hydroturbine air pumpas it is placed in operation, to the intent that it may more quicklypick up its load.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for priming ahydro-turbine air pump in the upper part thereof, thus equalizing thewater in the diflerent lobes of the pump.

Another object of the invention is to prime a hydroturbi'ne air pump bydelivering water under substantial pressure direct to certain portionsof the pumpingchamber.

An important feature of my invention relates to means for simultaneouslycontrolling the supply of priming water and the operation of thehydro-turbine air pump, so that the priming water may be injected onlyduring the operation of the air pump.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig.1 is a front elevation of certain sewage ejecting mechanism, partly insection, and showing the general operation of my invention' Fig. 2 is asectional side elevation of the mechanism forv controlling the switchand priming valve, the parts being shown in position for pumping;

Fig. 3 is a similar view but showing the parts in inoperative position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of certain partsof the switchmechanism;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3, andalso includes a partial longitudinal sectional elevation of ahydro-turbine air pump Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation ofthe air pump;

Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional elevations. taken along the lines77 and 8-8 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the priming valve.

General construction.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I will first describe briefly thegeneral operation of a sewage ejecting system to which my im preventingflow through said inlet and outlet pipes in a reverse direction. Ahydroturbine air pump has a discharge pipe 26 opening into the upperpart of the tank or receiver 20 and when in operation the pump deliversair under pressure to the upper part I of the receiver 20, forcing thesewage out through the discharge pipe 22.

The pump 25 is preferably motor driven and is controlled by a float 27in the receiver 20, which operates to close a switch and-start the airpumpv motor when the sewage reaches a predetermined height in thereceiver. The switch is opened and the pump stops when the sewage fallsto a predetermined lower level in the receiver. As soon as the pumpstops, the operating water flows to the lower part of the casing, asindicated in Fig. 8, un covering the upper inlet port 34 and permittingfree escape of air from the receiver 20 through the pipe 26 and out ofthe port 38.

When the airv pump is again placed in operation, it is necessary for theoperating water to be evenly distributed around the entire periphery ofthe casing before the pump can be effectively operated and it is alsocommonly necessary to provide a certain amount of so-called make-upwater to take the place of water which may have escaped through theports or connections of the pump.

Nash air pump.

Certain details of constructionof the air pump shown in my prior patentare shown in Figs. 5 to 9 of this application, which will be brieflydescribed to make the operation of my improved priming mechanism moreeasily understood. a

The air pump shown in the drawings comprises a rotor 30 rotatable in acasing 31 having the substantially elliptical outline best shown in Fig.8. An inlet pipe 32 is connected to an inlet chamber 33, portions ofwhich extend on both sides of the rotor chamber 31. Upper and lowerinlet ports 34 and 35 connect the inlet chamber 33 to the rotor chamber31 where they are aligned with openings 36 formed, in the side walls orend plates 37 of the rotor 30. These end plates 37 are omitted in Fig. 8to more clearly illus trate the operation of the machine.

Outlet ports 38 (Fig. 8) are disposed alternately with inlet ports 34and 35 and connect the rotor chamber 31 an outlet woaiia chamber 39(Fig.7) communicating through a passage 40 (Fig. 8) with an outlet ordischarge pipe 41 through which compressed air is delivered by the pump.

The rotor chamber 31 when the pump is in operation, is largely filledwith water, which is carriedaround with the rotor as it rapidly rotates,and which tends to distribute itself substantially uniformly around theelliptical periphery of the rotor chamber. The water thus forms ineffect, a plurality of water pistons between the blades of the rotor,which water pistons alternately draw air into the inlet ports 34 and 35and discharge the air through the outlet ports 38, all as fullydescribed in the prior Patent to Nash, No. 1,091,529,.issued March 31,1914.

, When the pump comes to rest, the operating water flows to the lowerpart of the casing (Fig. 8) collecting in the lower portion of the inletchamber 33 and the lower portion of the rotor chamber 31. The upperinlet ports 34 and the outlet ports 38 are thus substantially uncoveredand the rotor 30 has suflicient clearthe connections described,- acertain degree of air pressure may be built up in the pump casing andconnections, which may more or less seriously interfere with properadmission and distribution of operating water in the rotor chamber whenthe pump is again placed in operation and consequently the building upof a desired air pressure in the discharge pipe 41.

Priming device.

Accordingly, I have provided a priming pipe 50 (Fig. 6) projectingthrough the outer casing of the air pump into the inlet chamber 33 andpreferably aligned with one of the upper inlet ports 34. The pipe 50 iscontrolled by a shut-off valve 51 which, in the preferred form, isconnected to the mecha-' nism which actuates the switch which controlsthe air pump motor. These connections will be hereinafter described,but, briefly stated, they operate to open the valve 51 when the switchis closed to start the motor, so that priming water will besimultaneously and forcibly injected through the pipe 50 to the inletchamber 33 and through the port 34 into the pockets in the upper part ofthe rotor 30.

The rotor thus promptly receives a supply of operating water suflicientto place it imshut off immediately when the air pump isstopped. If aslight excess of water is thus injected, no harm is done, as the surpluswater is discharged by the pump through the outlet ports-38 and passeson through the discharge pipe 26 (Fig. 1) to the sewage receiver 20,where it is pumped out with the sewage through the sewage discharge pipe22.

Quick-acting control mechanism.

The float-controlled mechanism for the motor switch and priming valvecomprises a float 27 pivoted at 61 in an air tight flanged casing 62secured to an upper side portion of the receiver 20. The pivot shaft 61extends outward through suitable close fitting beariiigs and is providedwith an arm 63 having a lost-motion member 64 pivotally mounted on thefree end of the arm. The member 64' is substantially lJ-shaped and isapertured to receive a rod 65 slidable in said member 64. Adjusting andcheek nuts 66 on the rod 65 provide adjustable abutments, limitingsliding movement of the rod relative to the member 64:.

At is upper end, the rod 65 is pivoted to an arm 68 secured to a rockshaft 69 mounted in a bearing 70 supported on a switch box 71 containingswitches 7 2 by which the air pump motor may be started and stopped. Theswitches 72 are clamped to a. square shaft 73 rotatable in bearingswithin the casing 71 and having an arm 75 connected by a link 76 to alever 77 pivoted on a support 78 mounted on the casing of the primingvalve 51. The lever 77 has an Offset projection 80 engaging the upperend of a valve rod 81 (Fig. 9) and adapted to depress the rod againstthe re sistance of a spring 82 by which the valve is normally closed.The link 76 is adjustable as to length, for convenience in setting theparts in desired relation.

Any usual snap-action connection is provided between the shaft 69 (Fig.5) and the shaft 73 supporting the switches 72. I have shown a spring 85connected at its lower end to one movable part 86 and at its upper endto a second movable part 87, one ofsaid parts being connected to theshaft 69 and the other to the shaft 73. The parts are so constructedthat the shaft 73 will remain in the closed position shown in Fig. 2 orthe open position shown in Fig. 3 during the initial rotation of theshaft 69 in one direction or the other, but will be moved quickly with asnap action to the opposite position when the spring 85 passes a givenpoint.

Statement of operation.

The general operation of the machine has been described somewhat indetail in connection with the several parts and only a brief additionalstatement of operation is considered necessary. I

The U-shaped sliding member 64 is given any desired amount of lostmotion by adjusting the lock nuts 66 on the rod 65, and the switch andvalve controlling connections are so adjusted that the valve 51 will beclosed when the switch 72 is open, as indicated in Fig. 3, while thevalve 51 is open when the switch 72 is closed, as shown in Fig. 2.

As the tank or receiver 20 fills with sewage,

the float 27 is gradually lifted until the member 64 engages the lowerpair of lock nuts 66,

depressing the rod 65, and tensioning the spring; 85, the tensionincreasing until the spring finally acts abruptly to close the switch tostart the motor (Fig. 2) and to open the valve 51 to inject primingwater intothe pipe 50 and into the upper. inlet port 54 to the rotor ofthe air pump. The pump is thus primed as soon as it begins to rotate andvery quickly picks up its load, forcing compressed air into the'receiver20 and thus forcing out the sewage therein through the discharge pipe22.

As the sewage flows out, the float 6O swings i downward until the member64 engages the upper pair of lock nut-s 66, forcing the rod 65 upward,and eventually causing the spring 85 to act abruptly in the oppositedirection to open the switch 72 and to close the valve 51, as indicatedin Fig. 3. The parts are thus restored to initial posit-ion and thecycle of operation begins over again.

As no time is lost in priming the pump or in picking up the load, threceiver is emptied more promptly than wh n the priming pipe is not usedand consequently the cycle of operations is completed in a shorterperiod of time and the apparatus can handle more charges of sewage in agiven period, thus increasing the capacity of the sewage ejecting tionabout the periphery of the casing and of accomplishing this distributionmuch more quickly than will happen if the water remaining in the bottomof:- the pump casing is depended upon entirely to supply water for thepumping action.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof I do notWish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as setforth in the claims, but What I claim is 1 In a hydro-turbine air pumpemploying water for its pumping action, a rotor, a rotor chamber havinginlet and outlet ports, and means to inject a stream of priming waterthrough one of said inlet ports directly into said rotor chamber.

2. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing Water for its pumping action, arotor, a rotor chamber having outlet ports and upper and lower inletports, and means to inject a stream of priming water through an upperinlet port directly into said rotor chamber.

- 3. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing water for its pumping action,a rotor, a rotor chamber having outlet ports and upper and lower inletports, and means to forcibly inject a supply of priming water throughone of said inlet ports when the pump is in operation and to shut ofisaid supply when the pump stops.

4. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing Water for its pumping action, arotor, a rotor chamber having inlet and outlet ports, means to start andstop said rotor, and means effective to introduce priming Water to saidrotor chamber, saidpriming means and said taneously operated.

5. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing water for its pumping action, arotor, a rotor chamber having inlet and. outlet ports, means to startand stop said rotor, and means effective to introduce priming water tosaid rotor chamber, said priming means and said starting and stoppingmeans being controlled externally of said pump and being simultaneouslyoperated. W

6. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing water for its pumping action, arotor, a rotor chamber having inlet and-outlet ports, means to start andstop said rotor, and means effective to introduce priming water to saidrotor chamber, said priming means and said starting and stopping meansbeing controlled externally of said pump and being simul-' taneouslyoperated, and connections between said float and said dual means throughwhich said means is abruptly operated with a snap action.

7. In a hydro-turbine air pump employing water for its pumping action, arotor, a rotor chamber having inlet and outlet ports, a rotor drivingmeans, a control device therefor hav-- ing a snap action, and means tointroduce priming water to said rotor chamber, said means being renderedoperative and inoperative byvsaid controlling device.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

IRVING C. JENNINGS.

